Below is a press release from Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk, warning residents about letters that appear to be from the Clerk’s office and are not. Read the press release to learn what to look for and what you can do if you receive one of these letters.

PRESS RELEASE
October 18, 2023
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega

We want to make Lake County residents aware of “official-looking” letters that are misleading and currently making the rounds. These documents may falsely, or even correctly, claim that there’s a lien on a resident’s property. These letters will typically look like they originated from an official government office with names such as “Lake County Public Judgment Record” as seen below. 

Please be aware of these letters as they can involve false information and requests for higher charges for documents and/or services than our office would charge. For example, one particular letter asks that the resident send in $90 for a copy of their property deed, when that copy is available for $1 in the Recording Division.

Allow us to be clear: this letter, and others like it, are misleading and aimed at costing residents unnecessary money. If any resident receives a letter that does not have the Lake County Seal on the envelope or an actual letter from a real government agency, please take an extra moment to review the small print which may disclose the letter is actually a “third party referral service”.

If you have any doubts about a property-related notice, please reach out to the Recording Division of the Lake County Clerk’s Office directly. 

Our Recording Division can be reached at:

• Email: recorder@lakecountyil.gov
• Phone: 847-377-2575

We also suggest signing up for Property Check, our free, easy-to-use, 24/7 online service that will alert subscribers, via email and/or text message, whenever a document is recorded against their name and/or property. Click here to register for Property Check.

For your reference, we have attached a copy of one of the misleading letters below. Remember, we’re in this together, and your safety is our priority. If you receive one of these suspicious letters, please let us know. We’re working hard to put a stop to this predatory activity and keep our community safe.